It’s odd to picture city landscapes without any trees, but it wasn’t until about 200 years ago that urban planners started including them. Green spaces serve a huge benefit to our environment. They filter pollutants and dust, lower temperatures in urban areas, and reduce soil erosion. The Smithsonian explains just how important green spaces are for humans:

“Studies have found that, after looking at nature scenes, people are kinder and more charitable. They’ve suggested that children with ADHD have an easier time concentrating when they spend time outdoors. A 2008 study even found that, for office workers, a mere glimpse of green through a window or a live plant on their desk were, on the whole, associated with lower stress levels and higher job satisfaction.”

I really enjoy visiting parks whenever I travel. Here are 5 of my favorite green spaces that I have visited recently:

1) City Park – Denver

2) Golden Gate Park – San Francisco

3) Lincoln Park – Seattle

4) Central Park – New York

5) Hyde Park – London